It seems like Larian does want to give us build and party flexibility, evidenced by having the built in respec as well as picking a class for each companion. However, when most of the companions you recruit are already level 2 or higher, you are faced with either having wasted civil points until respect much later, or picking a class that you don't really want to start as just to not gimp the civil points.
Any of these suggestions would help a lot I think:
1. Move the second civil point from level 2 to 3 or 4, or, bring up the level 6 one to 4 or 5
2. Just give a few more civil points
3. Have newly joined companions start as level one of the chosen class, let the player place the points
4. Make telekinesis more useful by allowing it to pickpocket people when combined with thievery (like a sneak alternative)
I just feel frustrated that the way it is, even in a 4 person party, you really have to sacrifice some skills or just pray for early item drops that have +skills you want. This would not be a big deal except the skills are not equal in power, thievery and lucky charm, or barter, are way stronger than others, leaving room only for persuasion MAYBE... the vast majority of people are going to neglect loremaster and telekinesis.
